Events took place across Long Island as the country marks one year since the death of George Floyd.
Candlelight vigils took place in Greenport and Garden City, with another vigil that took place in Huntington for Floyd, who died on May 25, 2020 after Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes.
One of the organizers of the Garden City candlelight vigil Jeremy Joseph, of Long Island United, says, "We want to remember him as a symbol."
Rabbi Lina Zerbarini, of Kehillath Shalom Synagogue, was at the vigil in Huntington. She says communities and congregations are still hurting.
"There was such an uprising and a call to justice after his death that we don't want to forget that," says Zerbarini. "And the work isn't done."
Veronique Bailey, president of the Huntington NAACP, spoke about the importance of holding police accountable, including those who witness wrongdoing by other officers.
"You cannot allow yourself to watch abuse or even murder happen and just walk away," says Bailey.
In response, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder issued a statement saying, "The Nassau County Police Department submitted a plan without a civilian complaint review board which was voted on by the Nassau County Legislature and passed. The department held over 200 community meetings on police reform and received valuable input from our communities.
There are already multiple layers of oversight in the police department. First, all complaints are investigated on a supervisory level. Second, based on the initial investigation cases can be assigned to the Internal Affairs Unit. Third, if there is any criminality the District Attorney's Office will also open an investigation. Fourth, is the new Attorney General's Office for Misconduct can open their own investigation. Additionally, if there is a determination that there are possible civil rights violations, the federal government can also investigate."